Why Sapphires Are The Best Alternative.
When it comes to sapphire, you have an endless array of choices in colour! Sapphire belongs to the mineral species corundum, which includes the gemstone ruby. Besides blue sapphire and ruby, the corundum family also includes “fancy sapphires.” These unique sapphires come in a rainbow of colours from violet, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and intermediate hues. Sapphires can even be gray, black, brown, or white. A white sapphire makes for a great alternative to a colourless diamond. When it comes to choosing the colour of your sapphire be sure to keep in mind your individual style and personality, ensuring your choice is a true reflection of you!
2. Sapphires Are Highly Durable!
Durability is a major consideration in choosing the perfect gemstone for your engagement ring. One aspect of a gemstone's durability is its hardness. The Mohs scale ranks gem and mineral hardness on a scale of 1 (least hard) to 10 (hardest of all). While a diamond is the only gemstone to rank 10, sapphire, along with ruby, come in second at 9, meaning they are able to resist scratching and abrasions. This makes sapphire and ruby great choices for engagement rings that will see a lifetime of active wear!
Toughness and stability are two additional factors that determine a gemstone’s durability. Toughness indicates how well a gemstone resists breaking, chipping or cracking. Stability refers to how well a gemstone can withstand exposure to chemicals, light and changes in temperature or humidity. Sapphires are both tough and stable. In fact, sapphires are so durable they are used in spacecraft!
3. Sapphires Are a Versatile Gemstone
An added benefit in choosing a sapphire engagement ring is the endless design options. Just like diamonds, sapphires are readily available in almost every desired shape. The most popular shapes are oval, round, and cushion. Other shapes such as pear, emerald, and princess can also be sourced!
A rainbow of different hues can be further accentuated by your choice of precious metal for your setting. For example, we have noticed a rise in pink sapphires being incorporated in rose gold jewellery. This combination beautifully emphasizes the warmth of the stone's pink hues. For a twist, consider setting a cornflower blue or purple sapphire in rose gold to make a gorgeous and unexpected statement.
A sapphire's versatility allows for it to be complemented by diamonds and even other sapphires. From 3-stone rings, halo designs, and ombre coloured bands, no matter the design you have your heart set on, choosing a sapphire will always provide a regal and eye catching look.
4. Sapphires Are An Affordable Option
Sapphires, like diamonds, come in a wide range of price points and the price of a sapphire per carat is generally lower than that of a diamond. Factors that determine the cost of a sapphire include size, colour, clarity, origin, and rarity. You can achieve a bigger look by choosing a sapphire as an alternative to a diamond centre stone. When choosing your sapphire, do keep in mind that there are some such as Kashmir blue sapphires, padparadscha sapphires, colour change sapphires and unheated sapphires that will command a higher cost.
A Howard Fine Jewellers custom designed sapphire & diamond ring.
5. Sapphires Are The Perfect Balance Between Timeless and Contemporary
Sapphire gemstone engagement rings have decorated the fingers of royals and other style makers for centuries. More than 200 years ago, in 1796, Napoleon Bonaparte gave his future empress, Joséphine, a sapphire and diamond toi et moi (“you and me”) ring for their engagement. More recently, Princess Eugenie opted for a padparadscha sapphire, a rare colour best described as the perfect balance of orange and pink. While sapphire has long been associated with royalty and romance, they are certainly not only for the royals! Before the 20th century, blue sapphires were favoured over diamonds for engagement rings!
Princess Eugenies padparadscha sapphire engagement ring.
The beauty, durability and affordability of sapphire make it a triple threat and the ideal choice for the bride-to-be who wants to make an alternative statement to a diamond. The wide world of sapphire allows for everyone from the classic beauty to the modern heroine to make this precious gemstone her own.
Is sapphire right for you? We would love to hear which colour of sapphire inspires you!
